Su Mianmian ignored Lin Jiaojiao's teasing remarks, gave Tang Yunzheng a warning glare, and turned back to continue watching.
But not long after, Tang Yunzheng used the same trick again, nudging the back of her chair. Su Mianmian, furious, whirled around, "Tang Yunzheng, you did that on purpose, didn't you?"
Her voice was choked with anger, and some people around them grumbled. Su Mianmian blushed, then saw Tang Yunzheng raise an eyebrow and say in an extremely irritating tone, "Su Mianmian, you spoke to me first this time. Don't forget to bark like a dog later."
"Bark like a dog? Why bark like a dog?" Lin Jiaojiao chuckled, tilting her head back and asking Tang Yunzheng in a coquettish voice. Tang Yunzheng lightly pinched Lin Jiaojiao's chin and said smugly, "Naturally, someone couldn't resist breaking the rules first."
Su Mianmian listened to their back-and-forth banter, her heart clenching. Just then, her phone screen lit up. She opened it and saw a message from her mother. "Mianbao, call Mom back immediately after you see this message. It's urgent."
Su Mianmian's brow twitched; she had a premonition. She told Cheng Yuli and crouched down as she left the screening room. The moment she dialed back, her mother answered anxiously, "Mianbao, did your sister contact you today?"
Su Mianmian replied, "No, what happened?" Her mother sighed heavily. "Your sister wants to break off the engagement. She left that message and disappeared. Your father and I have been trying to contact her all day but haven't been able to. Come back as soon as you have time."
Su Mianmian suddenly felt a sense of relief. After suggesting to Su Yang that she break off the engagement, he hadn't responded at all. And in just a few days, it would be the day she and Gu Yizhou were to get their marriage certificate.
Su Mianmian was a little anxious. She was planning to contact Su Yang again in the next couple of days, but she hadn't expected her to catch everyone off guard. The house must be in chaos right now. Su Mianmian quickly agreed, hung up the phone, and headed out of the movie theater.
Unexpectedly, Tang Yunzheng also emerged from the theater at some point, chasing after her and grabbing her from behind. "Why are you running? Trying to cheat?" Su Mianmian struggled but couldn't break free. "Who's cheating? If you hadn't pushed against the back of my chair first, would I have talked to you?
If anyone's going to bark like a dog, it's you!" Tang Yunzheng scoffed, his gaze fixed on Su Mianmian, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, and suddenly felt a sense of nostalgia. Thinking of how she had been chatting and laughing with that law student earlier, he felt inexplicably annoyed.
"Hey, are you dating that law student?" Su Mianmian frowned. "What's it to you?"
Tang Yunzheng licked his back teeth. "Of course it's related. We're childhood sweethearts, so it's my job to vet your friends, especially boyfriends."
Su Mianmian was speechless, especially when she heard the words "childhood sweethearts," which reflexively brought back the embarrassing moment on her birthday. "Don't bother, besides, you didn't ask me for advice when you got a girlfriend."
Tang Yunzheng's eyes lit up. "You want to advise me? Okay, next time I find a girlfriend, I'll definitely bring her to see you first." Next time? "Aren't you and Lin Jiaojiao having a passionate affair?"
Tang Yunzheng's lips curled into a roguish smile. "Who only has one relationship in their life? Besides, don't you two not get along? I'd better find someone you can get along with."
Su Mianmian felt a chill. "I was just saying, don't take it seriously. Also, from now on, whether you find a girlfriend or break up with someone, it's none of my business. Don't drag me into it."
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of a pretty figure coming out of the theater. Su Mianmian shook off Tang Yunzheng's hand. "I have something urgent to do, I'll go first." Tang Yunzheng chased after her. "What's the rush? You don't even have time to say a few words to me?"
Su Mianmian was too lazy to argue with him. "Something came up at home, I have to go back right away." Seeing that Su Mianmian didn't seem to be lying, Tang Yunzheng took out his car keys. "Then I'll give you a ride."
Su Mianmian was about to say it wasn't necessary, that she could take a taxi herself, when suddenly she heard the sound of hurried high heels behind her. Lin Jiaojiao came running over and took Tang Yunzheng's arm. "Didn't you say you were going to the restroom? Why are you here? I've been looking for you for ages."
Tang Yunzheng casually brushed it off. "You go ahead and watch it. I'll take Su Mianmian home and then come back to pick you up." Lin Jiaojiao stamped her foot. "No way! I've been choosing this movie for ages, and you promised you'd watch it with me." Tang Yunzheng frowned, patiently...
"Then you watch it first this time, and I'll come with you to another one next time, okay?" Lin Jiaojiao persisted, gripping Tang Yunzheng's sleeve tightly. "What's the point then? I don't care, you have to come with me today."
Tang Yunzheng used to be quite swayed by Lin Jiaojiao's coquettishness, thinking that women should be like that, delicate and clingy, the more the better.
But these past few days, he'd clearly been resisting it. Even before Lin Jiaojiao started to whimper, he'd feel physically uncomfortable, forcefully prying her hand away. "I said, I'll come back to pick you up right after I drop Su Mianmian off, don't be unreasonable."
After saying that, he turned around, but Su Mianmian was nowhere to be seen at the movie theater entrance. He rushed to the street, just in time to see Su Mianmian closing the taxi door. "Damn it!"
Tang Yunzheng kicked a pebble away, a surge of inexplicable frustration welling up inside him. ...When Su Mianmian arrived home, she saw several cars parked outside, one of which, a BL car, stood out prominently. Su Mianmian took a breath and pushed open the door to go inside.
As soon as she entered, she felt a heavy atmosphere. In the living room, Su's parents sat on one side, their faces full of worry, while Gu Yizhou on the other side remained calm and composed, his demeanor dignified, even leisurely sipping a cup of tea.
Several older relatives sat beside him, frowning and criticizing Su's parents. "Marriage is a serious matter, not a game! If you disagreed in the first place, why agree to the marriage? Now the engagement is set, and the bride-to-be has run away! What kind of mess has your Su family made?!"
Father Su frowned, seemingly lost in thought. Seeing this, Mother Su tried to soothe her, "Second Master Gu, please don't get upset. My Yangyang might just be abroad relaxing. Maybe she'll be back in a few days." "Back in a few days? Humph!"
The elder, whom Mother Su addressed as Second Master Gu, waved his hand. "The message she left for A-Zhou couldn't be clearer—she wanted to annul the engagement. Why are you still trying to cover for her?" "The engagement won't be annulled," Father Su, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up.
"Don't worry, Second Master Gu, even if I have to arrest her, I'll bring that brat back!" "Why bring back your sister?" Su Mianmian suddenly blurted out, and only then did everyone seem to notice her presence.
Mother Su walked over and grabbed Su Mianmian. "Elders are discussing matters; what right do children have to interrupt!" Su Mianmian stood still, her voice gentle yet firm. "Since my sister doesn't want to, even if we bring her back, it's like forcing a donkey to drink water."
Su Mianmian said, her gaze shifting to Gu Yizhou. "Brother-in-law is a dragon among men; he can have any woman he wants. Why marry a woman whose heart isn't with you, only to be mutually repulsive?" "Su Mianmian!"
Father Su, not expecting his usually gentle youngest daughter to utter such rebellious words in public, stood up abruptly in anger. "What nonsense are you spouting? Go back to your room right now!"
Father Su rarely spoke to Su Mianmian so harshly, and Su Mianmian's eyelashes trembled in fear. But she still mustered her courage and continued.
"Brother-in-law, you yourself said you only like my sister because she's your future wife. If that's the case, could you please arrange a marriage with someone else? I believe you could like her as much as you like my sister." "Utter nonsense!"
Uncle Gu's brows furrowed so deeply they could crush a fly. Just as he was about to continue scolding Su Mianmian, Gu Yizhou gently raised his hand. His gaze softened as he looked at Su Mianmian, his voice clear and resonant. "I did say that, but there was another part I didn't finish."
"I like her not only because she's my future wife, but also because she's a daughter of the Su family." A daughter of the Su family… Su Mianmian's lips trembled slightly, her heart, which had just been burning with passion, suddenly seemed to lose its warmth.
So, he wouldn't marry anyone but a daughter of the Su family? While Su Mianmian was still in a daze, Su's father glared at Su's mother. "Take her upstairs now!"
Su's mother sighed and walked to Su Mianmian's side. "Mianbao, the marriage between the Gu and Su families was arranged long ago. It concerns the honor and development of both families. You're still young; you don't understand the implications."
As she spoke, Su's mother took Su Mianmian's hand and led her towards the stairs.
Su Mianmian's shoulders slumped. She recalled the way Su Yang had looked that night, sitting on the windowsill, his soul seemingly detached, as if he might drift away with the wind at any moment. She could imagine Su Yang now, with his beloved, happy and free.
If they forcibly brought her back, what difference would it make from clipping a bird's wings? She didn't want her sister to spend the rest of her life as a caged bird. If possible, she wanted her sister's life to be vibrant and unrestrained. Su's father was still repeatedly making promises to the Gu family.
"I, Su Cheng, guarantee that I will bring Su Yang back safe and sound within three days. Then we'll go straight to the Civil Affairs Bureau to sign and stamp the papers!" Su Mianmian stopped, took two deep breaths, and slowly turned to look at Gu Yizhou.
"If my brother-in-law is destined to marry a daughter of the Su family, could you perhaps change the bride to me?"